HMS Proselyte was a 32-gun fifth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy, originally built in 1770 in Rotterdam as the Dutch frigate Jason. She was a former Dutch vessel that, after mutiny by her crew and subsequent surrender to the British in 1796, was commissioned into the Royal Navy. Her construction details include a crew complement armed with twenty-six 12-pounder guns and six 6-pounders, designed to serve as a versatile warship during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Her service history began in 1796 shortly after her capture and renaming. Under British command, she was assigned to the West Indies station, with notable activity including the capture of the French privateer Liberté in June 1797. Her operational duties expanded to participation in significant naval campaigns, such as the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland in 1799. During this campaign, she was involved in the capture of Dutch vessels and participated in the surrender of Batavian ships at the Vlieter Incident. Her engagements also included capturing various vessels, such as the Prussian hoy Zeeluft and the French cutter Victor et Natalie, as well as the Danish brig Fortuna. In 1801, Proselyte was assigned to the Leeward Islands under the command of Lieutenant Henry Whitby. During this period, she took part in Rear Admiral Duckworth's successful operations against Dutch and French territories, including the capture of St. Martin and St. Bartholomew. However, her career ended when she was wrecked on 4 September 1801 on the Man of War Shoal near St. Martin while en route from St. Kitts. Despite the loss, all crew members were saved. The court martial attributed the wreck to negligence by Lt. Whitby, who failed to heed warnings about the shoal, resulting in his reduction in rank and the dismissal of the master, Luke Winter. Today, the wreck of HMS Proselyte lies on her starboard side in approximately 50 feet of water near Philipsburg, St. Martin. The site, known as Proselyte Reef, has become a popular diving destination, with numerous artifacts and encrusted cannon scattered across the ocean floor, and is preserved as a historical maritime relic.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.